In 1772 Robert Adam was commissioned to make designs for a new public record house in Aberdeen. It was probably intended for a site in Marischal Street which the town council had chosen in 1770. The scheme was not executed.

Much later, in 1822-23, an alternative record house was built at 27 King Street to designs by John Smith (1781-1852). This was constructed separately from its two neighbours at numbers 29 and 31, but the three buildings form a single cohesive façade. The building is now used as offices.

Literature:
A.T. Bolton, The architecture of Robert and James Adam, 1922, Volume II, Index p. 1; D. King, The complete works of Robert & James Adam and unbuilt Adam, 2001, Volume II, p. 53; British listed buildings online: '27, 29, 31 King Street, Aberdeen'

Frances Sands, 2013